Method and apparatus for providing advice regarding gaming strategies

Abstract

Methods for providing gaming advice are provided. For example, regarding a blackjack game, one or more first player cards are identified for a first player and one or more second player cards are identified for a second player. The first and second player cards are displayed to the first player. A probability associated with a first one of the plurality of playing options is determined based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards. It is then determined, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a first display portion for displaying indicia of one or more gameplay parameters associated with a first player in a game; 
 a second display portion for displaying one or more gameplay parameters associated with of a second player in the game; 
 an advice display operable to display advice regarding a first one of a plurality of playing options; 
 a memory operable to store, at least temporarily:
 a set of predetermined statistical data relating to the game; 
 one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player in the game; and 
 one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player in the game; and 
 
 a processor operable to:
 cause the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player in the game to be displayed in the first display portion and the one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player in the game to be displayed in the second display portion; 
 determine a probability associated with the first playing option based at least on the set of predetermined statistical data, the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player, and the one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player; 
 determine, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option; and 
 cause the determined first indication, second indication, or third indication to be displayed via the advice display. 
 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor of at least one computer in electronic communication with at least one other computer over an electronic communications network; 
 at least one memory in electronic communication with the at least one processor, the at least one memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
 identify for a first player one or more first gameplay indicia assigned to a first player in a game; 
 identify for a second player one or more second gameplay indicia assigned to a second player in the game; 
 cause to be displayed to the first player indicia of the identified one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player in the game and indicia of the identified one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player in the game; 
 determine a probability associated with a first one of a plurality of playing options based at least on a set of predetermined statistical data associated with the game, the identified one or more first gameplay parameters and the identified one or more second gameplay parameters; and 
 determine, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein determining whether to display the first indication, the second indication or the third indication comprises:
 if the determined probability falls within a first range, displaying to the first player a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option; 
 if the determined probability falls within a second range, displaying to the first player a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option; and 
 if the determined probability falls within a third range, displaying to the first player a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option, wherein: 
 the first range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player; 
 the second range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being less statistically advantageous for the first player than the first range of probabilities; and 
 the third range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being less statistically advantageous for the first player than the second range of probabilities, and 
 wherein the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player comprises the first playing option maximizing one of (i) the first player's odds of winning the game with respect to one or more other playing options and (ii) the first player's expected return on the game with respect to one or more other playing options. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the identified one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player comprise a pair of face-up cards for the first player; and 
 the identified one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player comprise a face-up card for the second player, 
 wherein the second player represents a dealer or house entity, 
 wherein the game comprises blackjack, and wherein the plurality of playing options comprises a hit option, a stand option, and at least one other blackjack playing option. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player to initiate the first playing option; 
 the second advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player not to initiate the first playing option; and 
 the third advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice that the first playing option is disadvantageous for the first player, but less disadvantageous than a predetermined threshold level, 
 the first indication corresponding with the first advice comprises a first symbol; 
 the second indication corresponding with the second advice comprises a second symbol; and 
 the third indication corresponding with the third advice comprises a third symbol. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving from the first player a selection of one of the plurality of playing options via one of a plurality of buttons associated the plurality of playing options; 
 wherein the plurality of buttons includes a first button corresponding to the first playing option; 
 wherein the first indication corresponding with the first advice comprises a light of a first color; 
 wherein the second indication corresponding with the second advice comprises a light of a second color; 
 wherein the third indication corresponding with the third advice comprises a light of a third color; and 
 wherein the light of the first color, the light of the second color, and the light of the third color are associated with the first button. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 determining a probability associated with the first playing option comprises determining for each of the plurality of playing options an average return associated with that playing option; and 
 determining whether to display a first indication, a second indication, or a third indication based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option comprises:
 determining to display a first indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is the highest average return associated with any of the plurality of playing options; 
 determining to display a second indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is less than a threshold amount less than that of the playing option having the highest average return; and 
 determining to display a third indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is more than the threshold amount less than that of the playing option having the highest average return. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being statistically disadvantageous for the first player; and 
 the apparatus further comprises:
 allowing the first player to select from the plurality of playing options; 
 receiving from the first player a selection of a wager amount for the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player; 
 receiving from the first player a selection of the first playing option; and 
 in response to receiving from the first player selection of the first playing option being statistically disadvantageous for the first player, automatically displaying to the first player a message requesting the first player to confirm the selection of the first playing option if the selected wager amount exceeds a predetermined wager amount threshold. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving from the first player a wager associated with the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player, the wager having an associated wager amount; 
 determining a result of the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player; 
 determining a first player payout for the first hand based at least on the result of the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player and the wager amount associated with the first hand; and 
 managing a balance for the first player based at least on the first player payout; and 
 
       monitoring the increase or decrease of the balance for the first player over time. 
     
     
       10. A method, comprising:
 identifying, by at least one processor, for a first player one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player in a game; 
 identifying, by the at least one processor, for a second player one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player in the game; 
 causing to be displayed to the first player indicia of the identified one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player and indicia of the identified one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player; 
 determining a probability associated with a first one of a plurality of playing options based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player, and the one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player; and 
 determining, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the game is a card game; 
 the one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player comprises one or more first player cards associated with a first hand of cards in the card game; 
 the one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player comprises one or more second player cards associated with a second hand of cards in the card game; 
 the act of identifying for a first player one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player in a game comprises electronically determining the one or more first player cards for the first player; 
 the act of identifying for a second player one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player in the game comprises electronically determining the one or more second player cards for the second player; 
 the probability associated with the first playing option comprises the calculated average return on the first hand of cards for the first player if the first player selects the first playing option; and 
 the average return on the first hand of cards for the first player comprises the calculated average return per amount wagered by the first player on the first hand of cards. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving from the first player a selection of one of the plurality of playing options via one of a plurality of buttons associated the plurality of playing options; and 
 displaying to the first player mathematical progression wagering information; 
 wherein the plurality of buttons includes a first button corresponding to the first playing option; 
 wherein the first indication corresponding with the first advice comprises a light of a first color; 
 wherein the second indication corresponding with the second advice comprises a light of a second color; 
 wherein the third indication corresponding with the third advice comprises a light of a third color; and 
 wherein the light of the first color, the light of the second color, and the light of the third color are associated with the first button. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining whether to display the first indication, the second indication or the third indication comprises:
 if the determined probability falls within a first range, displaying to the first player a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option; 
 if the determined probability falls within a second range, displaying to the first player a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option; and 
 if the determined probability falls within a third range, displaying to the first player a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player; 
 the second range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being less advantageous for the first player than the first range of probabilities; and 
 the third range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being less advantageous for the first player than the second range of probabilities. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player comprises the first playing option maximizing one of the first player's odds of winning the game with respect to one or more other playing options and the first player's potential return on the first game with respect to one or more other playing options. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 allowing the first player to select from the plurality of playing options; 
 receiving from the first player a selection of a wager amount for the game; 
 receiving from the first player a selection of the first playing option; and 
 in response to receiving from the first player selection of the first playing option being statistically disadvantageous for the first player, automatically displaying to the first player a message requesting the first player to confirm the selection of the first playing option if the selected wager amount exceeds a predetermined wager amount threshold. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the identified one or more first gameplay parameters assigned to the first player comprise a pair of face-up cards for the first player; and 
 the identified one or more second gameplay parameters assigned to the second player comprise a face-up card for the second player, 
 wherein the second player represents a dealer or house entity, 
 wherein the game comprises a card game of blackjack, and 
 wherein the plurality of playing options comprises a hit option and a stand option. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of playing options further comprises at least one of:
 a double-down playing option; 
 a split-pair playing option; 
 an insurance playing option; and 
 a surrender playing option. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 determining a probability associated with the first playing option comprises determining for each of the plurality of playing options an average return associated with that playing option; and 
 determining whether to display a first indication, a second indication, or a third indication based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option comprises:
 determining to display a first indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is the highest average return associated with any of the plurality of playing options; 
 determining to display a second indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is less than a threshold amount less than that of the playing option having the highest average return; and 
 determining to display a third indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is more than the threshold amount less than that of the playing option having the highest average return. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player to initiate the first playing option; 
 the second advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player not to initiate the first playing option; and 
 the third advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice that the first playing option is disadvantageous for the first player, but less disadvantageous than a predetermined threshold level.